author
William McKinley
1843–1901
Remembered as a calm, disciplined leader at a turning point in American history, he guided the United States through the Spanish-American War and into a new era of global power. His rise from Ohio lawyer and Civil War veteran to the presidency ended tragically with his assassination in 1901.
3 Audiobooks
State of the Union Addresses
by William McKinley
About the author
Born in Niles, Ohio, in 1843, William McKinley served in the Union Army during the Civil War before studying law and building a political career in Ohio. He went on to serve in Congress and later became governor of Ohio, gaining a reputation as a careful, business-friendly Republican with a talent for organization and party leadership.
As the 25th president of the United States, serving from 1897 until 1901, he presided over a period of economic recovery and major change in American foreign policy. His presidency is closely tied to the Spanish-American War, after which the United States took control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, marking a major expansion of American influence abroad.
McKinley won reelection in 1900, but his second term was cut short when he was shot at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, and died on September 14, 1901. His life and presidency are often seen as a bridge between the Civil War generation and the more assertive, modern America that followed.